I'm excited for this challenge. Of course, the warm and fuzzies are coming up, but I didn't expect so much "old stuff" to come up with it. Regret about not reaching out to people when I should have, old apologies I never worked up the courage to make, old friends I drifted away from. Nothing inappropriate for a card/note, but I'm surprised by how they've surfaced. It's as though my mind was waiting for permission to release these old stories. Whoo...March is going to be interesting.

Hi I’m Dr. Franchelle Caesar, I’m a Medical Doctor, International Life Coach, & Financial Coach for Spenders My business is Financial Savvy for High-Achievers & Career-Minded Women I help you feel as confident about your savings account as you do about your credentials. I heard about the Mr. Thank You Project when @John Israel was interviewed on the Ninja Selling Podcast. I’ve always wanted to write hand-written notes and send timely thank you’s but the “busyness” of life has always gotten in the way. Until Ninja. Now I focus on what matters…building relationships. And my life and business are so much better. I’m here to grow in my gratitude skills. I’m delighted to be with you all in this space.

I wanted to share something that happened to me! I am a pretty good mom. Always room for improvement. I am never the mom that shows up to the school parties and fund raisers with homemade treats or great crafts and games. I am there, but never have the time or confidence to go the extra mile and I secretly judge myself for this shortcoming. There is a mom whose daughter has gone to my son’s school. We have known each other in passing for 8 years. She is that rock star mom. She is the mom that makes all of us other “bad or less than” moms feel more guilt and shame. I am ashamed to say that I envied her and it kept me from connecting. So… I wrote a thank you note. I thanked for always being the mom that makes the kids school parties a huge success. I thanked her for always taking photos of the events that she attended and making a point to share them with the other moms and dads that couldn’t attend. I thanked her for her creativity and her cooking. I recognized her efforts and how hard it must be to manage it all and have a full time job. She is truly amazing and I let that flow in my words. I sheepishly handed her the card and went about my day. She chased me down after school and as the tears started to flow she thanked me for thanking her. She thanked me for recognizing everything she does and that it isn’t easy but she loves it. NO ONE HAD EVER THANKED HER. 8 years of multiple holiday parties, school events, PTA meetings, fundraisers and NO ONE had thanked her. WOW. I told her that we all see her but were secretly judging ourselves for our shortcomings and it kept us from reaching out. I promised her that even though I won’t have the most spectacular homemade contribution for future parties, I will be reaching out weeks ahead of every party to see how I can help her. And now, we have a date for coffee next week!

Today I am morning the loss of a family member. It was completely unexpected and way too soon and has left me regretting the cards I didn’t send and the invites I didn’t extend often enough. I took for granted that he would always be in my life and we will chat later.. Now there is no more later. So in honor of him, I am going through my entire list of family and close friends who mean the very world to me and who I often put on the back burner assuming they will always be here and I am writing each and every one of them a note to tell them how much they mean to me. Life is fragile. Tell the ones you care about how much you love them. You never know how much they might need to hear it.

I am so glad that you have joined the Grow with Gratitude Community. 1) WATCH this short 4 min video... then: 2) Download the Skool app 3) Drop a comment here of where you are from and how you heard about Grow with Gratitude OR The Mr. Thank You Project. BONUS: Then create your first post (write, photo, or video). Document your journey here so we can all learn and grow together. Welcome!